Moscow
In Vienna they are currently planning for the construction of a central train station. Pretty much like what was accomplished in recent times in Berlin. Right now, ressembling Paris, there is a couple of medium-sized stations circling the centre of town. Westbahnhof, Süd/Ostbahnhof (one complex), Franzjosefsbahnhof, Wien Nord,.. I think that’s about it. The station which is going to be reconstructed into Vienna Central, is going to be Südbahnhof. Even now it seems to be the largest train station in Vienna, with its vast concourse, held in the chilling humongous ortogonality of 3rd Reich architecture.
Anyway sometimes when I get there, there is this train to Moscow waiting at the platform. It appears to be going directly to Moscow, all those many hundreds of miles. It waits there, lurking, with it’s dark blue carriages, some machinery whispering in their humming tune, and staff in their different uniforms bustling to load the train with food and equipment. It takes 30 hours to get to Moscow.
Thinking about it, I picture myself getting on that train, in my briefcase I have the golden ticket for the ride to Moscow, with some kyrillic words of mistery on it. Heading north-east through unknown territory, passing vast patches of barren isolation and dense forests. Sitting in the restaurant car, dining in the crammed yet pittoresque atmosphere of the long tradition of traveling by train. The crystal glass of port, swaying in the yellow light of electric candelabras.
Then finally Moscow, the suburbs made from darkness and hulking slab buildings, getting closer to the centre, peering out of the window and getting dazzled by the lights of this HUGE city.
There is a subway network, one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Especially the Y line, that goes in a circle around the centre of town, is known to be dangerous.
Of course it’s the first ride I take, other passengers shaking their head at me while rushing for the taxi stand. Then emptiness of the subway platform, the train approaching, and then solitude, screaming danger, the noise of metal on metal, and dark phantoms outside the windows. Watching my own reflection pale white and dripping with cold sweat, pupils widened in terror, pulse thumping in raging fear.
But nothing happens – it’s just a quite normal subway ride in a large town.
I should go and try it out myself. Yes, I expect to be on my own. If not, contact me.
